It was Mark Twain who coined the term ‘gilded age’, satirising post-Civil War industrial boom in the America he saw. The phrase describes a thin veneer of golden glamour covering up all of the era’s social ills, which should hopefully be on full, glorious display in Paramount+ series The Gilded Age.
It’s from creator Julian Fellowes of Downton Abbey fame, so you know the period drama, gossip, and gowns will be top notch.
The Gilded Age: Season 1
The Gilded Age introduces us to a dizzying world of new money versus old, through the eyes of ingenue Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) and her bestie Peggy (Denée Benton). The penniless pair arrive in New York City to make their fortunes, but they’ll have to keep their wits about them to fool their way into image-obsessed 1882 high society.
Our review from critic Amelia Berry claims that the series takes a few episodes to establish all its key characters; but the wait seems to be worth it.
“With brilliant and engaging characters, the juiciest drama you’ll find this side of Love Island, and a pitch-perfect evocation of the 19th Century’s mannered glamour, it’s a slice of period-drama juiciness. After all, who needs the facts, when you’ve got the gossip?”
Fellowes and his crew have also done a great job attracting some of TV’s most talented actors, in particular the fierce female-driven cast: Carrie Coon is an ambitious ‘new money’ socialite, and Christine Baranski and Cynthia Nixon make a delicious double act as Marian’s sassy aunts.
All nine episodes of the first season will roll out week by week, concluding on March 23. We’re pretty dang lucky to be living in the streaming age instead of The Gilded Age, as fun as it sounds: much better TV tbh.
